The Beatles, “Yesterday” (1965)

Originally recorded for their album Help! and featuring Paul McCartney on acoustic guitar backed by a string arrangement, this ballad remains very popular, as evidenced by numerous cover versions. It is common in jazz and in popular music to briefly navigate key areas by means of ii–V–I progressions (or a more extended progression: vi–ii–V–I). Given the length of complete pieces in these contemporary styles, this procedure treads a fine line between tonicization and modulation.